Things to do in winters in India, You Haven’t Done Before
When winter comes you head out west,
Missing the beauty of your home.
Our summers maybe Gold,
But it’s in winters new landscapes unfold;
Trees covered in snowy powder
Icicles hanging by the wall
Smooth and clean and frosty white,
the world looks good enough to bite.
For seasons go and seasons come
But winters bring in a new adventure
of catching snowflakes on your tongue.
The best season to explore our lovely country, India is in winters. The time when not only kids have Christmas holidays but we have the New Year’s Eve too. A long winter break is on the cards and everyone starts planning an international holiday and but have you ever considered holidaying in winters in India? Gone are the days when winters meant you only had the options to head to a beach holiday in India. So before you do flight tickets booking, check below for experiences and places which you may not have tried but is worth to do in winters in India:
Celebrate Vishnu Festival in Shree Krishna Temple Courtyard: Things To Do In Winters In India
The Krishna temple in Guruvayur has a very mythological and historical background, having looted and burned down by invaders and enemy kings many times but it still stands there, rebuilt by a common man. The temple witnesses a huge crowd on First Day of Malayalam New Year to see Vishu Kani for a fortunate start of the New Year.
How to get there:
Fly from Delhi or Mumbai to Kochi and drive to Guruvayur
Which is an hour away from the airport.
Explore The Hill Stations Of The West: Things To Do In Winters In India
Whenever we think of hill stations we think of the north of India. This time explore hill stations of the west which are as beautiful and less crowded. Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, and Matheran are some beautiful places to explore. There may not be any snow but they are a perfect escape from the city life.
Panchagani
How to get there:
From Delhi;
You will have to choose from various Delhi to Mumbai flights or fly from Delhi to Pune from and then you can hire a bus or taxi to these hill stations. Only Matheran is a vehicle-free zone so you will have to cover this last 2.5 kms stretch on a horseback or walk it.
http://maaofallblogs.com/2017/09/malhar-machi-perfect-setting-in-the-sahyadris.html/
The Unexplored Gangtok
Gangtok is one of the least explored part of India and the panorama of the snow peaks, monasteries and gandolas make it worth a visit in winters. From the offbeat Yak Safari, to visit to different passes to mountain biking, there is enough for the adventure seekers here as well.
How to get there:
From Mumbai;
There is no direct flight from Mumbai so you have to first fly from Mumbai to Delhi.
From Delhi;
You have to fly from Delhi to Badgdora in West Bengal. From here Gangtok is 124 kms away and you have to take a taxi to get there. The ride is very scenic. From Bagdogra, you can also take a TSA helicopter to get to Gangtok in just 20 minutes.
Pin the post.
Seek The Thrill In Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand offer you many options from rafting and bungee jumping in Rishikesh to wildlife safari in Jim Corbett National Park to snow capped hill stations in Nainital and a less explored Mukteshwar.
Get high on Water Sports at Varkala: Things To Do In Winters In India
A new entrant in the tourist map of Kerala, having long stretches of white sandy beaches guarded by towering cliffs. The velvet sand, whooshing wind, crashing waves and the isolated location of the place makes it an ideal holiday destination in India. An array of Water Sports can be enjoyed here. Arabian Sea’s crystal clear water is a perfect option for swimming and scuba-diving.
A Trip To Gujarat: Things To Do In Winters In India
The best time considered to be in a Jungle is winter. Gir Forest in Gujarat is the place where you can witness Lions in a natural habitat. The food, the folk dance, handicrafts, blend of varied customs and the 2000 years old Buddhist caves exhibits the serene lifestyle and beauty of Gujarat. Another noteworthy experience is Rann of Kutch festival during winters.
How to reach:
From Delhi take a train to Ahmedabad and then take a bus to Kutch.
From Mumbai: There are multiple trains and you can even drive down.
Beach Treks In Karnataka: Things To Do In Winters In India
Winters and Beaches are a perfect pair. If you are not a lazy person and have a taste for adventure, these lovely beach treks are surely going to be your thing.
Caving in Andhra Pradesh: Things To Do In Winters In India
Andhra has some very beautiful cave formations. Vizag can be the best place for exploring the Borra Caves. You can explore Belum and Yaganti near Kurnool.
The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram located around 45 km away from Vizag.
Borra caves in Vizag
Surfing in Southern India: Things To Do In Winters In India
The sport has picked up in the last few years. You can either go for surfing in Pondicherry or Mulki. The location of Kodi Bengere is just a class apart having Jutland between a river and a sea.
Christmas in Aizwal: Things To Do In Winters In India
One full week of festivity. This will be an amazing experience. Amongst one of the loveliest hill stations in north-east India, people here are very hospitable. Christmas is the best time to mingle with the locals. Entire city lights up in decorative lights. You get to indulge in Mizo cuisine during this festival and this festival is a food paradise for the non-vegetarians.
How to get there:
There is no direct flight from Mumbai so you have to first fly from Mumbai to Delhi and then take a flight to Aizawl.
From Delhi: Direct flight to Aizwhal.
Dharamshala: Things To Do In Winters In India
Not only the land of the lamas but the home of the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan culture, the people, the food all attracts you to this place the year round in winters, Dharamshala has its own distinctive charm.
How to get there?
From Mumbai
You fly from Mumbai to Delhi.
From Delhi: Fly to Gaggal, which is the nearest airport about 13 kilometres away from Dharamshala and then can take a bus or taxi from there.
Skiing In Auli – The skiing paradise of the country: Things To Do In Winters In India
Did you know there are proper skiing schools in India? I wasn’t aware until recently that Auli is one such place in India. So why head to Austria or Switzerland when you can ski in this beautiful landscape?
How to get there:
There is no direct flight from Mumbai to Dehradun and then take a cab to Auli which takes another 5 hours 30 min to reach Auli.
From Delhi;
The best way to reach Auli is to take an overnight bus from Delhi to Rishikesh.
So this year, take your pick and plan your travel for winters in India are waiting for you to experience it.
Thanks for this extensive and informative post! I’ll definitely put these in my bucket list. Another beautiful place to explore in the winter is Gulmarg in Kashmir. It’s a skiing hub and is breathtakingly beautiful!
Very nice compilation post. I had visited panchgani during winter long back and love the weather of the awesome hill station. This time I am planning to visit kutch this time.
Oh, I didn’t know Christmas of Aizwal is so famous. These are some great places to visit. I have been to North East. But yet to visit Matheran and Panchghani
India looks more beautiful during winters! Gujarat is fun in winters and have some awesome memories of that place…Uttarakhand I want to explore…
Borra caves are so fascinating! I went there in summers but reckon it would be stunning during winters!
Loved reading each and every point mentioned, but my favorite is exploring the hill stations in the west, thank you for sharing such an amazing blog
I would love to explore hill stations during winters as it is the best time to experience cold winds or snowfall. I am definitely making a plan soon.
I have already booked mine in India this year :).
Wow..that’s good info Prerna… Have been to a few of them..Will have to explore the new places. As usual a wonderful blog dear
Thanks Lakshmi, so glad you found this useful.
Wow, Just so much to explore in our country. I can drive down to Yaganti in Kurnool from where I live. But that thought never came to my mind till now. Thank you for the idea. My vacation planned.
You are welcome Vedhanandini. There is so much to explore here :).